Peacock has released all ten episodes of The Paper, a new spinoff series set in the same universe as the popular show The Office. The series became available for streaming on September 4, 2025. In a rare move, the show was renewed for a second season even before its first episode aired. This early renewal shows strong confidence from NBCUniversal in the new series.
The series is created by Greg Daniels, who also developed the American version of The Office. He co-created the new show with Michael Koman, known for his work on Nathan for You. The Paper follows a documentary crew that previously filmed the employees of Dunder Mifflin in Scranton. This time, they focus on a struggling local newspaper in Toledo, Ohio, called the Toledo Truth-Teller.
The Paper is set at the Toledo Truth-Teller, a historic Midwest newspaper that has seen better days. The newspaper is owned by a company named Enervate, which mainly sells toilet paper. The story begins when Dunder Mifflin is bought by Enervate. The documentary crew decides to move to Toledo to film the new setting.
Domhnall Gleeson plays Ned Sampson, a top salesman in Enervate’s toilet paper division. He is suddenly assigned to become the new editor-in-chief of the newspaper, even though he has no recent experience in journalism. He wants to restore the newspaper to its former glory, but he faces many challenges. The staff is small and not very motivated. The budget is very limited.
Sabrina Impacciatore plays Esmeralda Grand, the managing editor who is not happy about Ned’s arrival. She is more focused on publishing clickbait stories online than on serious journalism. Other main cast members include Chelsea Frei, Melvin Gregg, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Ramona Young, and Tim Key.
Oscar Nuñez reprises his role as Oscar Martinez, the intelligent accountant from The Office. He now works as the head accountant at the Toledo Truth-Teller. His character provides a direct link to the original series.
Watch the paper trailer below.
The decision to renew The Paper for a second season before its premiere is unusual. It shows that NBCUniversal has high hopes for the series. The announcement was made by stars Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore during an appearance on NBC’s Today show. The early renewal means that production for Season 2 can start soon. This could allow the show to return as early as next fall.
Greg Daniels mentioned that he already has ideas for the second season. He said the team has been discussing stories for a possible new season. He also expressed curiosity about how fans of The Office will react to the new show.
We definitely have ideas. We’ve been talking about stories for a possible Season 2, and it’ll be interesting to see what the audience thinks. We’ve gotten really good feedback from people inside the company and journalists and friends, but you never know what the broader world of Office fans are going to think of it.
The renewal is not limited to the United States. Sky, which carries the show in the UK and Ireland, has also committed to airing the second season.
The Paper is produced by Universal Television. Several key people from The Office are involved in the new series. Greg Daniels is an executive producer, writer, and director. Ken Kwapis, who directed the pilot episode of The Office, also directed an episode. Paul Lieberstein, who was a writer, producer, director, and actor on The Office, directed and wrote episodes for The Paper.
Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, creators of the original British version of The Office, are also executive producers. Other producers include Howard Klein and Ben Silverman.
The first season consists of ten episodes, each about 30 minutes long. Originally, Peacock planned to release the episodes weekly. However, after seeing positive early reviews, they decided to release all episodes at once. This change was also influenced by the fact that The Office is one of the most-binged shows of all time.
The series has received generally favorable reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 84%. On Metacritic, it has a score of 68 out of 100. Some critics noted that the first few episodes feel a bit slow, similar to the first season of Parks and Recreation. However, the show finds its footing by the fifth episode, titled “Scam Alert!”.
In that episode, the staff investigates a catfishing scam and discovers that someone in the newsroom might be involved. This episode is seen as a turning point where the series starts to shine.
The show is available exclusively on Peacock in the United States. Viewers need a subscription to watch it. The ad-supported plan costs $7.99 per month. The ad-free Premium plan costs $16.99 per month. Peacock also offers annual plans that provide a discount.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the series is available on Sky and NOW. In Australia, it streams on Binge and airs on Foxtel. The global release schedule was arranged so that viewers in different countries could watch the show around the same time.
The connection to The Office is clear both in front of and behind the cameras. The same documentary crew that filmed Dunder Mifflin is now filming the Toledo Truth-Teller. The show’s style is very similar to The Office, including the mockumentary format, confessional interviews, and similar theme music.
Oscar Martinez is the only character from The Office who appears in the new series. However, the premiere episode includes a brief cameo from Bob Vance, of Vance Refrigeration, from the original show. He explains that Dunder Mifflin was bought by Enervate and that the old office space is now used for other businesses.
Early reactions from viewers have been mixed but generally positive. Some fans have expressed excitement about returning to the familiar mockumentary style. Others have noted that the show needs time to find its own voice, much like the first season of The Office.
I liked it. Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration! Sabrina’s character definitely needs to be dialed down a bit. She’s a mix of Michael Scott season one and Ava from Abbott Elementary. The rest of the cast seems ready for the challenge of following up The Office. Season one of the original was rough and it wasn’t until season two that the show found its footing. Give it time. I also loved the intro music/graphics!
Another viewer commented:
It was fine but you were correct in your review. Sabrina Impacciatore is so incredibly miscast and no one like her has EVER been to Toledo, Ohio. Totally out of place. It has potential though.
The series explores themes like the decline of local journalism, generational clashes in the workplace, and the struggle to keep print media alive in the digital age. Despite the challenges, the show maintains a sense of hope and humor.
Also Read: The Paper Season 1 Cast and Characters Guide: Meet the Stars of The Office Spinoff Series
Credits: Deadline
